Professor Wynde issue #2 - Well, actually it's #1 with the LORE KNIGHTS and WONDERMAN!

OOC I wouldn't consider it killing combat against Robots. Some rules just need some common sense to get 'round' so to speak.

Prof Wynde was encircled by a tornado but within all was calm. Well, mostly calm.

There'd been seven human-ish sized robots and they had grown to eight feet or so in height. The technology to achieve that was clearly ADVENT - only superhuman scientists in the 21st Century could achieve this level of power and using it here in the year of 1940?  Not only could that change the course of history, it could alter the outcome of the war completely!

ADVENT were playing for keeps.

OOC I would recommend going for a Crit Blow or Devastating Attack. For this round Crit Blow will do but these things are so big and slow (compared to a human sized foe) they are easy to hit. They are pretty much immune to small arms fire etc but not magic axes.

CRIT BLOW Air Control 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,5,+0 Total:15 (25) vs six opponents...

OV0 + CB4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,3,+0 Total:14 (18) +4 (14) vs RV20 - 6 (14)=0 RAPs
Robot #2 7/10 Body OV0 + CB4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,9,+0 Total:10 (14)  +5 (15) vs RV14 (with CB)=1 RAP
OV0 + CB4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,11,+0 Total:21 (25) +0 EV10 vs RV14 (CB)=0 RAPs
OV0 + CB4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,9,+0 Total:20 (24) +1 Ev (11) vs RV14 (CB)=0 RAPs
OV0 + CB4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,10,+0 Total:12 (16) +4 (14) vs RV14 (CB)=0 RAPs
OV0 + CB4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,4,+0 Total:5 (9) +6 (16) vs RV14 (CB)=2 RAPs

Despite causing howling winds to spring up and buffet the Robots only two of them slid backwards whilst the others ignored them!

"Do that again... but with more OOOMPH next time Prof!" shouted Wonder Man over the howl of the wind. He targeted the already damaged robot (Robot #2) with as mighty a blow as he could summon! "Hey! Get your own Robot!" laughed Boudicea! She moved aside in case the Robot was to fall in her direction.

OOC DEVASTATING ATTACK AV11 + 3D M Artist + Roll(5d12)+0: 2,10,7,9,1,+0 Total:19 (30) vs
OV0 + 8 (Dev Att) + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,11,+0 Total:20 (28) Close... but hits +2 EV (to 15) vs RV20 - 12 (DA so 8RV)=7 RAPs. Robot #2 goes DOWN!

The Robot takes a terrific blow to the head which pings its neck backwards and it topples... then shrinks to its ordinary size! Clattering in the sparse streets on the outskirts of the village where no buildings are present Wonder man shouts out "These guys ain't so tough! Team up on 'em!" against the howl of the wind (from Prof Wynde) and the pelting rain. "Man does it EVER stop raining here?" he added.

Major Oak blasts at one of the Robots with what appears to be a hail of razor sharp stakes! Whilst wood would clatter ineffectively against these monstrosities this was *magic* wood.

OOC DEVASTATING ATTACK!

Projectile Weapons 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 8,4,+0 Total:12 (22) vs
OV0 + Range 3 + DA 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,3,+0 Total:10 (21) +1 (to 11) vs RV20 - 12 (D Att so 8RV)=3 RAPs damage. Robot #3 is on 7/10 Body.

"My most powerful blast... and it barely made a dent!" cried Major Oak. "Keep at it Lore Knights! Snaga! You are the most effective! Get stuck into them!"

"No worries there Laddie!" laughs Snaga. "My axe cuts these metal morons down to size with one sweep!" he laughs, sweeping wet hair from his face.

OOC 5 Robots remaining, Robot #3 is on Body 7/10.

The Robots seem to know who the biggest threat is and three of them target Snaga, the other two target Wonder Man! "Ha Ha!" laughs Snaga. "You are weak, robots! You are no match for the Lore Knights!"

OOC Robot #1, #3 and #4 vs Snaga!

AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,3,+0 Total:15 (24) vs
OV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,3,+0 Total:15 (24) +0 14EV vs RV9=5 RAPs. Absorbed by Kinetic Absorption NO DAMAGE

AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,5,+0 Total:12 (21) vs
OV9 + Range 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,3,+0 Total:10 (21) +0 14EV vs RV9=5 RAPs Kinetic Absorption overloaded, Snaga on Body 4/9

AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,6,+0 Total:10 (19) vs
OV9 + Range 3 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,7,+0 Total:13 (25) Attack Missed

Robot #1, #3, #4 on Ammo 4/5

Snaga is blasted at by three robots who blast with arm mounted cannons!

"Oooff!" said Snaga as he rocked and ducked from the blasts. "Beware, laddie!" he cried to Wonder Man. "They pack a punch and they are coming for you!"

OOC Wonder Man faces Robot #5 and #6

AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,8,+0 Total:13 (22) vs
OV11 + Range 3 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,9,+0 Total:18 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 11,1,+0 Total:30 (43) attack missed

AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,8,+0 Total:11 (20) vs
OV11 + Range 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,10,+0 Total:13 (26) Attack Missed

"They ain't so tough Snaga, just don't get cocky!" shouted Wonder Man

Faerie swooped in and shouted (a mere squeak) to Snaga "Get out of there Snaga! I can't heal you instantly!" then she turns to a Robot (#1) and fires what seems to be a stream of blue magic energy!

OOC CRIT BLOW neutralize 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,1,+0 Total:13 (22) vs
OV0 + 4 CB + Range 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,3,+0 Total:10 (16) +3 (to 12) vs RV10 (growth) -6 (CB) so RV4=8 RAPs. Robot #1 only has 2 RAPs Growth remaining!

Robot #1 Growth 2
Robot #3 on Body 7/10
Snaga on Body 4/9



Wonder Man shouts out "Lore Knights! Listen to Prof Wynde! He can coordinate targets!"

One of the Robots was still on its feet but a 'mere' 10 feet tall and nowhere near as threatening!

They still had those arm cannons though!

OOC Wonder Man tries a DEVASTATING ATTACK on Robot #5

Dex 11 + 3D M Arts + Roll(5d12)+0: 5,12,1,1,9,+0 Total:21 (32) vs
OV0 + 8 DA + Roll(2d12)+0:  6,11,+0 Total:17 (25) +4 (to 17) vs RV20 - 12 (8RV DAtt)=9 RAPs damage

BONG! Another terrific blow from Wonder Man makes a huge dent in the chest of another Robot!

OOC Robot #5 on Body 1/10, Robot #3 is on 7/10 and Snaga is on Body 4/9

Faerie, still shrunk, blasts another with her 'shrinking ray'...

OOC DEV ATTACK Neutralize 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,1,+0 Total:13 (22) vs
OV0 + Range 2 + DAtt 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,3,+0 Total:8 (18) +3 (to 12) vs RV10 - 12 (-2 RV)= 14 RAPs

Robot #6 has Growth 0!

Robot #1 on Growth 2, Robot #2 is DOWN, Robot #6 on Growth 0, Robot #5 on Body 1/10, Robot #3 is on 7/10 and Snaga is on Body 4/9 with no Kinetic Absorption

One of the Robots shrunk to ordinary size and Faerie screamed (squeaked) "Get it Lore Knights!"

OOC Prof Wynde is up. Then Major Oak, Snaga, Boudicea and the remaining Robots.

Haven't used this for anything other than unstoning folks but lets try the medallion's neutralize power against Robot 1 and see if we can shrink it.


ooc: Next time he gets XP, need to spend it to keep the medallion.

OOC You really need a minimum of a Crit Blow to make a dent in these things Growth, so we'll go with that.

Neutralise 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 8,1,+0 Total:9 (19) vs
OV0 + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,3,+0 Total:8 (12) +4 (to 14) vs RV10-6 CB (4RV)=10 RAPs. Success, Growth of Robot #3 is now ZERO

Flying close to one of the robots (within ten feet!) Prof Wynde grasps the amulet and... hey presto! Whaddayaknow! It works! Another robot shrinks to a 'mere' ten feet high!

Major Oak targets the one that Prof Wynde just shrank...

OOC CRIT BLOW Projectile Weapons 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,1,+0 Total:11 (21) vs
OV5 (not grown) + Crit Blow 4 + Range 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,2,+0 Total:3 FAILED ROLL OV0. +6 (to 16) vs RV10 -6 (CB) so 4RV=12 RAPs. Robot #3 is DOWN and OUT

With a grim look on his face Major Oak hammers at the Robot that just shrunk and sends it flying, bouncing from walls and sliding down a road. "These things are unnatural, an abomination." he said.

Snaga snarled, powered up his axe and took a swing!

OOC Adren Surge Go for broke +4/-6

AS 14 + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,1,+0 Total:11 (25) vs
OV6 + 4 GFB + Roll(2d12)+0: 10,5,+0 Total:15 (25) +0 14EV vs RV6-6GFB so 0RV=14RAPs. Claws boosts to 20.

DEV ATTACK AV9 + 4D Weaponry + Roll(6d12)+0: 2,4,1,12,4,10,+0 Total:8 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 2,12,+0 Total:22 (31) vs
OV0 + Dev Attack 8 + Roll(2d12)+0: 1,5,+0 Total:6 (14) +6 (to 26) vs RV20 - 12 so RV8=18RAPs. Robot #4 is DOWN and OUT!

With another series of Mighty Blows hacking into the robots legs and smashing them in with dents and cuts, Snaga roars to the skies while brandishing his mighty Axe!

Boudicea powered up her own magic spear and sped up her reflexes...

OOC Adren Surge 13 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,3,+0 Total:12 (25) vs
Ov6 + 2 Multi (SSpeed and Claws) + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,3,+0 Total:10 (18) +4 (to 17) vs RV6 +2 Multi (8RV)= 9RAPs.

Superspeed and Claws boost to 15

MULTI ATTACK on TWO plus CRIT BLOW Dex 15 + 3D Weaponry + Roll(5d12)+0: 1,5,1,4,2,+0 Total:9 Ouch (24) vs
OV5 + Multi 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,10,+0 Total:22 (29) Attack Missed

Despite her speed and powerful weapon Boudicea can't land a blow and she curses in a most unladylike fashion!

OOC Robot #1 on Growth 2, Robot #2 is DOWN, Robot #3 is DOWN, Robot #4 is DOWN Robot, Robot #5 on Body 1/10, #6 on Growth 0, and Snaga is on Body 4/9 with no Kinetic Absorption

With three robots remaining they target Snaga who has been the most effective at thinning them out!

OOC AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,3,+0 Total:12 (21) vs
OV9 + Range 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,2,+0 Total:11 (22) attack Missed

AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,11,+0 Total:13 (22) vs
OV9 + Range 1 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,3,+0 Total:12 (22) EV14 vs RV9=5 RAPs.

Snaga absorbs 2 Damage (Snaga on body 1/9) for 3HP leaving Snaga on 45HP and is STUNNED

AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,9,+0 Total:11 (20) vs
OV9 + Range 1 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,7,+0 Total:9 (19) +1 (to 15) vs RV9=6 RAPs damage.

Snaga absorbs all 6 for 21HP and is on Body 1/9 with 24HP and is STUNNED

The cannons roar and Snaga staggers, barely keeping his feet whilst getting blasted time and again. An ordinary person would be dead but a Lore Knight was anything BUT ordinary!



OOC Will try to update later on! have to dash!

Wind Blast robot 5

"Snaga, pull back and let Faerie take care of you. We have the rest!" Prof Wynde orders.

OOC I will assume you got for a Critical Blow otherwise you won't make a dent in the robot (literally)

CRIT BLOW Air Control 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,9,+0 Total:15 (25) vs
OV0 + Crit Blow 4 + range 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,12,+0 Total:15 (21) +3 (to 13) vs RV20 - 6 (CB) so 14RV=No damage.

The Robot ignores Prof Wyndes' blast of air and looks around for another target whilst the Lore Knight leader shouts for Snaga to get clear.

Snaga, dazed and hearing Wydne shout over the clatter of robots clashing with the wind and rain, nods and looks about for somewhere to go and clear his head. he'd taken some big hits and was barely able to stand, let alone run for safety!

Boudicea cries out, raises her spear to the sky and summons the power from within!

OOC MULTI ATTACK on four abilities Adren Surge 13 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,8,+0 Total:20 (33) vs
OV6 + 4 Multi + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,4,+0 Total:16 (26) +4 (to 17) vs RV6 + 4 Multi (10RV)=7RAPs

Superspeed to 13
Claws to 13
Force Field to 12
Regeneration to 10

She strikes at Robot #5 and #6

AV13 + 3D Weaponry + Roll(5d12)+0: 2,9,12,1,2,+0 Total:21 (double 2 might not be a good follow up) vs
OV5 + multi 2 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,6,+0 Total:8 (15) +3 (to 16) vs RV20 + 2 Multi (22RV)=No damage

Smashing at a grown robot and one which could no longer grow, Boudicea sees her efforts ineffectual against them!

Snaga, stunned and barely conscious, stumbles and staggers behind the cover of a stone house hoping he isn't seen by the remaining three robots.

Wonder Man strikes out at the only remaining giant robot (#5)...

OOC CRIT BLOW Dex 11 + 3D M Arts + Roll(5d12)+0: 4,8,5,7,6,+0 Total:15 (26) vs
OV0 + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,9,+0 Total:12 (16) +4 (to 17) vs RV20 -6 (RV14)=3 RAPs damage. Robot #5 is DOWN and OUT!

Faerie flies off and round a corner to go help Snaga.

Major Oak levels his hands and targets one of the Robots (#1)

OOC CRIT BLOW Proj Weapons 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,6,+0 Total:9 (19) vs
OV4 + range 2 + CB 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,4,+0 Total:6 (16) +2 (to 12) vs RV12 - 6(6RV)=6RAPs damage. Robot #1 is on 4/10 Body

Both robots level their arms and aim at MAJOR OAK!

OOC CRIT BLOW AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 11,7,+0 Total:18 (27) vs
OV4 + CB 4 + Range 2 + 1D Acro + Roll(3d12)+0: 6,11,5,+0 Total:17 (27) 14EV vs RV13 -6 CB (7RV)=7RAPs damage. Major Oak absorbs 1 damage (1HP) is on 47HP and Body 1/7 and is STUNNED

Same again with the other robot...

CRIT BLOW AV9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 8,2,+0 Total:10 (19) vs
OV4 + CB 4 + Range 2 + 1D Acro + Roll(3d12)+0: 6,7,11,+0 Total:18 (28) attack missed

With blasts thundering at him Major Oak is buffeted and battered but stays (just about) on his feet!



OOC Prof Wynde is up first... two robots left, two lore knights battered and three of you left in the fight.

Try Magic Blast on Robot 1.

Damn, it was my best attack too. My air attacks don't seem to be doing much.

Is one still Enlarged? If so, try negating that power to weaken it.

Otherwise, air blast with whatever attack gives best chance for damage.

OOC Neither Robot is grown though one still benefits from Growth 2. Bit of a wasted attack to drain that though.

CRIT BLOW Air Attack 10 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,7,+0 Total:12 (22) vs
OV5 + Range 2 + Crit Blow 4 + Roll(2d12)+0: 2,4,+0 Total:6 (17) +3 (to 13) vs RV12 - 6 CB so RV6=6 RAPs damage Robot #1 is DOWN and OUT

That leaves only one robot remaining.

Snaga races from around the corner despite Faerie's protests and shouts "SNAAAAAAGGGGAAAA the SENDER!"

OOC Adren Surge 14 + Roll(2d12)+0: 6,5,+0 total:11 (25) vs
OV6 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,12,+0 Total:21 (27) no effect!

The Axe doesn't glow but Snaga swings it anyway!

OOC CRIT BLOW AV9 + Weaponry 4D + Roll(6d12)+0: 3,10,8,1,12,9,+0 Total:22 (31) vs
OV5 + 4 CB + Roll(2d12)+0: 4,2,+0 Total:6 (15) +6 (to 12) vs RV10 -6CB (RV4)=8 RAPS damage. Robot #6 is on body 2/10

Wonder Man steps up to the robot to 'tap' it...

OOC AV11 + 3D M Arts + Roll(5d12)+0: 4,1,10,7,11,+0 Total:21 (32) vs
OV5 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,8,+0 Total:20 (25) +4 (to 17) vs Rv10=7 Damage. The final Robot is DOWN and OUT!

When the final robot takes an uppercut and slides through the mud to a halt against a building Wonder Man turns to Snaga. "You ok?" he asks.

Snaga grins, spits some blood and goes to sit down on the chest of a downed robot. "Yeah, though I... what is that ticking sound?"

"BOMBS!!!  Wonderman, think you are strong enough to throw one or two of them out into the ocean," Prof. Wynde snaps.  "If not then join everyone in getting to cover!  If you can, throw them then join us!  Major Oak!  Can you fast grow plants between us and the bombs to help force the blast towards the shore?"

Prof. Wynde then summons the winds to create a funnel of air around the team and this part of the village so it can help divert the blast away from them.

ooc:  The intention is to direct the blast towards the ocean, away from the village and team.  He will delay long enough for Wonderman to throw a few, if he can, then have him join us behind the barrier of air.

The seven fallen robots were all ticking now and Wonder Man sprung to the challenge!

"I guess... let's see!" said the time displaced hero.

Scooping up a robot he hurled it high and far out into the darkness and rain. It tumbled and rolled through the air and darkness and they watched it go. And go.

"Probably weigh... a quarter of a ton?" he pondered. He looked at Snaga. "Well?"

Snaga snorted. "I'll take that challenge!"

OOC Adren Surge 14 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,2,+0 Total:14 (28) vs
Str 6 + Roll(2d12)+0: 7,5,+0 Total:12 (18) +4 (to 18) vs RV6=12RAPs. Str boosted to 18!

Snaga grabs a couple of robots, one by each leg then spins like a top and FWOOOOSH!!!! If anything they fly even further out and faster than Wonder Man's had!

"Ha! Show off!" laughed Wonder Man clapping Snaga on the shoulder.

"Stand aside boys!" said Boudicea!

OOC GO FOR BROKE +4/-6 Adren Surge 13 + Roll(2d12)+0: 8,5,+0 Total:13 (26) vs
Str 6 + 4 GFB + Roll(2d12)+0: Roll(2d12)+0: 12,12,+0 Total:24 DOUBLE plus Roll(2d12)+0: 2,9,+0 Total:35 (45) FAILED!

Boudicea failed and hurled a robot only a couple of hundred yards. With a scowl she threw up a hand. "It's a silly game anyway." and she stormed off to sit down on a low wall.

Major Oak laughed "I can't throw one that far! I'll try though!"

Growing out and up to a ten foot high and almost as wide green/brown form Major Oak hefts a robot, looks out to the sea and FLING! He fires it through the sky towards the sea which it lands into having travelled half a mile or so.

With four robots moved Prof Wynde summons up a wind tornado to gather the three remaining and spin them about in the tornado and hoist them up. Unlike the others he could continue to apply pressure and fly them towards the sea, albeit slower and in a more measured fashion.

He has them over the water when the first explodes, for which Prof Wynde is grateful that he could have them in the air and away from anything. The other two went with a bang and he let debris tumble in a smoking ruin towards the bay. There are muffled splashes as the other four robots go off in different places, harmlessly, in the water.

Faerie scowled and moved to Snaga. "Anyone else hurt of this lummox only?" she started the minute long process to heal Snaga.

OOC Damage transference normally takes one minute but uses only one roll in that time to resolve it (as opposed to 15, over four second bursts). I've just seen that Faerie has purchased the options that it can take place instantly. Ooops.

Adren Surge 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 12,9,+0 Total:21 (30) vs
Dam trans 1 + Roll(2d12)+0: 3,6,+0 Total:9 (10) +6 (to 15) vs Rv1=14 RAPs. Damage Transference up to 15

And... no roll required, there is no risk of injury and heals body, mind and spirit... Huh. Who made this character? Pretty thorough.

With a wave of her hand Snaga was bathed in blue Faerie dust and Snaga suddenly smiled, flexing a hand, rolling a shoulder and grinning. "Good as new lassie!" he said, standing and turned to the returning Prof Wynde. "Let's crack on wi it fearless leader!"

"I guess they are not going to be nice and let us rest before going out to the island," Prof. Wynde said with a grim smile. "Now the question is do I try flying us all out there or can anyone sail a boat?"


ooc: And looking over the character sheets, the answer is Boudicea and Wonderman can! So we will try sailing out to the island with Prof. Wynde providing the wind needed to sail the right way.

Despite possessing greater skill Boudicea has to admit that superhuman dexterity wins out as Wonder Man zips about making ready with the fishing boat!

"Good Call Prof!" said Wonder Man. "We may need this boat to transport civilians back."

The group embarks and is soon sailing off into the darkness under sail so as not to cause any noise from engines.

Snaga settles on the deck. "By the gods, girl, you've mended my shoulder up right good, and no mistake!" he said of Faeries' efforts.

Faerie blushes and settles at the prow to watch out over the water. When she shivers Wonder Man is quick to move over and off an arm to settle over her shoulder, which she accepts as she leans into him.

The moon shines down on the rolling waves as Boudicea steers the ship out of the harbour and Prof Wynde stands alongside conjuring the right amount of wind to allow the boat to slice through the waves without effort.

"Fred and Katheryn are an item eh?" chuckles Boudicea. "Good for them! This war may claim some... or all of us." she admits. "Best to make time for each other in whatever time we have."

Soon they were out in open water and Boudicea pulled a chart from the cabin on deck.

"So, we're about 25 miles out from the Outer Hebrides, that is the Isle of Lewis and Harris." explained Boudicea.



"There can't be too many people on this island but I suggest we make for Stornoway and work from there." offered Boudicea.

"Sounds as good as any destination," Prof. Wynde admits, "I'm totally lost up here. And if we wind up spending a lot of time up here, I need to rethink my costume idea. A bare chest does not do well for this kind of climate."

He pulls his cape around to shield himself with a grin.

It was wild and cold out here.

Only Snaga (Body 9) and Wonder Man (Body 12) seemed impervious to the cold and the journey was pretty awful. Cold, wet, windy and rolling, powerful and sometimes violent waves hampered their progress and Boudicea went with Major Oak and Faerie below decks. Occasionally Major Oak heaved his guts and Snaga even seemed to be unsettled.

However, despite being drenched wet through and cold from the wind Wonder Man stood solid on the deck and seemingly enjoying the bracing air as the ship made its way through the night. He would occasionally have to fight the controls and adjust course whilst he called down to Boudicea to keep track on the chart with a watch and tracking the movement on a chart.

The engine would have been useless in these waves and Prof Wynde was able to keep the wind down pretty well whilst directing it into the sails. Nonetheless he was wet through and freezing cold as a distant dark shape marked islands in the dark seas.

It had taken quite a while to get here. The ship was an old one, with a tiny diesel engine for manoeuvring and sails for general use. The sails were now in tatters having been blasted constantly by high winds and drenched so the weight dragged on them. The diesel engine chugged away for the last hour or so and the seas started to calm finally.

By the time the ship chugged near land and towards Stornoway even Wonder Man had felt enough and he looked drawn. Some of the others had grabbed some sleep and the creep of the sun over the horizon suggested dawn was not long in coming.

Wonder Man squelched over to Prof Wynde and muttered "You look all done in Prof. I'm feeling it now. Snaga quit the deck a couple of hours ago. You want to get a snatch of shut eye or see us in with me?"

OOC Going without sleep and battered by the storm all night will see everyone but Wonder Man suffer a +2 OV/RV penalty to every task they attempt until they get a bath, rest, food and sleep... Even Wonder Man suffers (eventually) and the penalty will apply to him in a couple more hours, despite his superhuman endurance.

"Let's get into port first and make sure it is safe there, then grab some shuteye," Prof. Wynde murmured.  "A couple or three hours would do us all good, if it is safe."

Chugging with the limping diesel engine towards the port Wonder Man nodded. "yeah, even I'm starting to feel it."

The boats in the harbour were much as they'd been on the shore. Some were capsized, others beached and still others simply floated about. "There." said Wonderman as he steered around a sunken vessel with its stern jutting from the water.

"This doesn't look good." he added unnecessarily.

Easing up to an empty space of the dock Wonderman leapt ashore and physically pulled the boat in on his own.

He looked about. Even the gulls seemed subdued. There were no people about. Crates, nets, general fishing equipment laying around. A discarded hat, fluttering newspapers, an abandoned car with its doors open, a truck having run into a low wall, doors ajar no one there.

"This is bad." muttered the American.

The others roused and started to appear on deck. With dawn still an hour or so away it was still dark and the group stood silent on the boat.

"What's the call?" asked Snaga. Major Oak stood by him and Boudicea leapt on the dock then stumbled, wobbling as her 'sea legs' took time to adjust. Faerie flew up and around, tiny and sparkling blue. Wonderman looked up. "Don't go far Kather... Faerie. Stay with the group."

OOC Adren Surge 9 + Roll(2d12)+0: 5,9,+0 Total:14 (23) vs
Detect 1 + Roll(2d12)+0: 9,10,+0 Total:19 (20) +2 (to 11) vs RV1=10RAPs. Detect Evil raises to 11.

"No one evil is within range of my power... I don't know if it will detect those robots though." said Faerie, swooping down to Prof Wynde.

"If they don't qualify as evil, what does?" asked Boudicea.

"My armpit is pretty evil smelling." said Snaga with a pulled face. "I'd kill a hoard of robots for a bath."

Major Oak chuckled then stepped ashore and walked straight towards a grass bank where he knelt and breathed in. Prof Wynde saw tendrils from his feet thrust into the soil beneath the grass and the grass itself seemed to shine green in the darkness around him as it leaned in. "I'll rest here." said Major Oak. "I'll be fine. The wind and rain won't bother me."

Boudicea raised an eyebrow but shrugged. Snaga made straight up a ramp towards the town, axe over his shoulder and called out "There must be a pub round here."

OOC Setting a watch or all hitting the sack?

"Let's set a watch and the rest of us get a few hours sleep," Prof. Wynde decides. "Who still has some energy in them? You take the watch for a couple of hours and then switch off for another couple of hours. Four hours is about all we can afford in this place."

That's probably Wonderman who can take the first watch. Not sure who will be recovered enough to take over the second.

Wonderman nodded. "There's a pub. I know this because one of Snaga's superpowers seems to be tracking down free beer."

He settled on a roof with a borrowed coat and Faerie flitted up, tiny, to say something to him as the others squelched into the building.

=========

"Wake up." said the voice.

"We have company."

Prof Wynde rubbed sleep from his eyes and woke in the bed of the inn he'd dropped in, still dressed.

Boudicea knelt next to the bed but looked towards a window.

The beautiful redhead socialite crept over the window and Prof Wynde sidled alongside her.

Peering out into the dawn light they saw armoured soldiers.



There were about half a dozen in the street driving a future influenced armoured car behind them at a slow pace. Weapons, armour, vehicles... built with 1940s resources to a 21st Century Alien design.

Where were the soldiers coming from? Advent had travelled back in time and ... Prof Wynde was a smart guy. he looked at the bed, noted the empty village, as well as those on the mainland and came up with a conclusion...

OOC Which I assume you'll get...

"Sockamagee!  They are the villagers," Prof. Wynde exclaims to Boudicea.  "Somehow they have been turned into those soldiers.  Mind control of some sort.  Or maybe body control.  The question is, are they wearing something that makes them act the way their captors want that we can take away from them or are they under some great mental control that we may not be able to break?"

He uses his Mystic Sense to try to determine if there is some kind of magical device on them. [doubtful but hey!  worth a shot!]

"IF we can catch one away from the others, I can try and see if I can negate what keeps them under control," he tells her.  "Let's get to the others and see if we can find some way to do that."

He heads downstairs to the others and lets them know what he believes to be true and to come up with a plan.

"Boudicea, with your speed, do you think you can snatch one and bring him here before the others realize he has been snatched?  Swashbukler would have also been a good choice for a snatch like that but he isn't here, darn the luck."

ooc:  And it looks like Faerie can do neutralize too.

Prof Wynde doesn't detect any magical sources within a mile or so, his outermost range. Whatever these soldiers are wearing is technological.

Getting to the others Prof Wynde explains what is happening and suggests to Boudicea about the speed thing.

"So fast I can't be seen? Errrr..." she glanced about, uncertain. Wonder Man scratched his head. "Gee, that would be something wouldn't it?"

Snaga too looked doubtful. "Can't see it myself. I think we should just get stuck into em and slice... ack. We can't hurt them can we?"

Faerie gasped "No! They are the victims! We are here to PROTECT them! They've been put in those... those suits and made to be Nazi soldiers!"

Major Oak walked in "I suggest we lie low and follow them, see where they came from and formulate a plan. Might be just some kind of random patrol and they might not know we are here."

ooc:  So the 19 Superspeed she can have, if she doesn't burn out Adrenaline Surge, isn't fast enough?  The 6 superspeed, if the Adrenaline Surge burns out, is probably visible since that is the speed of a normal car but I figured the 19 superspeed if it doesn't burnout would be too fast to be seen.  I mean how fast is that?  Something like 1.6 million MPH?

"Keep an eye out for scanners," Prof. Wynde says, disappointed his idea didn't work.  "Something that can read life signs or body heat.  they would probably be waving it in front of them if they have them.  Their goggles might be able to see into the Infrared or Ultra-Violet.  So they may see us through the windows or openings.  Hide as best you can.""

OOC Knowing the game system as we do, 19APs is more than fast enough to be invisible to ordinary people... Can she get that high? Need a good roll I'd have thought. That kind of speed/measuring/knowing the breadth of their capabilities would come with time. Even Wonder Man is a comparatively inexperienced hero, as Prof Wynde is

"I'll try it." said Boudicea. "Just grab one, the back one, and bring it back here yes?" she asked.

Wonder Man looked doubtful. "I'm pretty fast and I can't imagine ANYONE moving fast enough so that I can't see them. You sure this will work?"

Boudicea shrugged. "It's the boss man's idea. I don't know. We never tried anything like this before..."

OOC Checked on it. Something was niggling, and I couldn't figure out why...



High speed movement of 8APs or more will produce an effect like invisibility whereby the person observing would need to make a Perception check (int vs Aps of speed) to spot. The sonic boom activates at 9APs so it is possible. In the comics physics fly out the window but many speedsters use a form of dispersal as a 'trick'. I tried to look up 'power tricks' in the Blood of Heroes rules and... they are mentioned but not in there! Doh!

It would be a tight run thing. At 8APs superspeed she could try it but chances are she'd be spotted. Any faster and she'd be heard...

"Hide?" spluttered Snaga. "Why... " he moaned and started upstairs. Wonder Man led Boudicea into the basement and Prof Wynde summoned an area of cooling wind around him to lower his apparent body temperature to heat scanners...

Fairie flew up the chimney in her tiny form and could be heard making squeaking coughs...

Watching through the gap of a window Prof Wynde saw the troops make a cursory scan, looking about. As he thought their helmets must have extra sensors in them and he wondered if the team had done well enough to hide their heat signatures...

He needn't have worried. The thick old stone of these houses blocked much of the heat and the leaking nature of old buildings ensured they were, if not cold then certainly warm - ish to make a heat reading conclusive.

They mounted up into the transport after going down the street, and moved to some back streets...

ooc: Must be why the Golden Age Flash, with a Superspeed of 24 has a dispersal of 12, to prevent from being heard. Though when Wally West was the Flash after Barry Allen Died, he had a superspeed of 14 and no dispersal. Jesse Quick was done with a heat shield used to prevent speed problems, in writeup.org, to mimic the Speed Aura all speedsters had to negate any negative aspects of their speed. Johnny Quick had Flight and Running but no superspeed which makes no sense as in his old stories, he did many things at superspeed. But all of them had their dispersal and air control linked to their superspeed and only worked while using their speed or flight. Guess that's as good a way to mimic a Speed Aura than any other.


"Okay, let's follow them and see where they go," Prof. Wynde calls to the others, "but make sure that you keep something solid between you and them when they look in your direction or they may spot you with their sensors. And if they split up and get out of sight of each other, maybe we can then try to grab one and find out if Faerie and I can destroy what controls them."

actions: sneaky, sneak, sneak and follow to their base unless we get a chance to capture one. Be nice to know if we can negate the control over them before we have to fight a mob of them.

An hour later the group watched from a distance as the soldiers searched in a group of six a small farmhouse having gone through Stornoway then another village and now the outlying farms.

They were being thorough.

The rain continued but Prof Wynde was thankfully able to abate the wind. Thoroughly miserable by now, Boudicea snarled "We should just take them and BEAT it out of them!"

"No!" argued Faerie, full size and thoroughly wet through despite the borrowed coat, with hair plastered to her face. All of the team had borrowed coats on now and Wonder Man sighed. "Boudicea, we've been through this. The people in those suits are innocent citizens and if you clobber them or slice into them with your magic swords or whatever..."

"Spear." mumbled Boudicea.

"Axe." snarled Snaga.

"... so, whatever weapon you slash through the armour with will hit and harm them and I and I'm sure you don't want the blood of innocents on your hands. Right?"

"yes." muttered Boudicea. "Aye." agreed Snaga.

"They are moving." said Major Oak. The group kept an eye out and followed...

=========

More villages, farm houses, lonely houses set in moorland... and finally the vehicle seemed to turn south.

The group stayed low behind a stone wall and Snaga muttered "I'm so hungry my belly thinks my throats been cut."

"I wondered if the rumbling noise was thunder or you needing to fill yourself up again." whispered Boudicea.

"Aye." muttered Snaga with a look at Boudicea, then he turned to Prof Wynde. "We've followed this thing for hours. They patrol, look through the buildings, find nothing then move on. We're all tired and hungry and the sun will be down in a few hours. Do we rest up and move by night or keep following?"